The Outset of Dissension in Islam — Page 99
99 from the events and seems most likely that this deception was the work of a few leaders alone. It would not be surprising if this was the doing of ‘ Abdull a h bin Sab a alone and a few of his intimate accomplices; and that the other rebels, even if they were army chiefs, had no knowledge of this. SEVEN ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF THE ‘ LETTER CONSPIRACY ’ Evidence of the fact that this scheme was the work of the rebels themselves is as follows: It has already been proven with relation to the rebels that they did not refrain from lying in order to achieve their ends just as they had lied in opposition to Wal i d bin ‘Utbah and Sa‘ i d bin Al-‘ As. Similarly, they publicised false complaints regarding various foreign administrations, which were investigated by the prominent companions and found to be false. Thus, when it has been established with relation to the rebels that they did not refrain from lying, there is no reason why they should not be held liable in this case either and such people against whom no charge has ever been established should be held responsible. Just as Hadrat ‘ Al i ra and Muhammad bin Maslamah ra objected, the prompt return of these rebels and their entrance into Madinah together is a testimony to the fact that this was a conspiracy. The reason being that as history establishes, the rebels of Egypt asserted that they intercepted a messenger at a place known as Buwaib who, according to their statement, was